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Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D-Bergen) Monday announced she plans to introduce legislation that would provide tax relief to New Jerseyans – through their local governments – whose taxes went toward pensions of officials who ended up being convicted of corruption.

"New Jersey communities that contributed hard-earned money to the pensions of corrupt officials deserve a break," Wagner said "Taxpayers expect honorable service, and they shouldn't be financially penalized when they get otherwise."

A 2007 law revokes the benefits of public officials convicted of corruption, but local governments that paid toward those benefits don't get a refund of their contributions.

Under Wagner's bill to be introduced in May when the Assembly convenes again, if a local government employer contributed to the pension of an official who was convicted of corruption, the state – in the next fiscal year – would reduce the local government's pension contribution by the amount it paid on behalf of the corrupt official.

"This bill would be a give back to citizens that have been wronged by their public officials," Wagner said. "By allowing the local public employer to reduce their pension obligation one time in the amount contributed for the individual that will lose their pension, taxpayers would get some relief for the terrible actions of corrupt officials."

– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM